Health Financing Policy Strategy
Universal coverage
Universal coverage is defined as access to key promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health interventions for all at an affordable cost, thereby achieving equity in access. The principle of financial-risk protection ensures that the cost of care does not put people at risk of financial catastrophe. A related objective of health-financing policy is equity in financing: households contribute to the health system on the basis of ability to pay. Universal coverage is consistent with WHO’s concepts of health for all and primary health care.
The 58th World Health Assembly (2005) adopted the resolution 58.33 on “Sustainable health financing, universal coverage and social health insurance”. In it, it urges WHO’s member states to ensure that health financing systems include prepayment and risk sharing mechanisms, to avoid catastrophic health-care expenditure, and to work towards universal coverage.
Following this mandate, WHO provides technical support, information and tools as well as capacity strengthening for the development of health-financing systems, in response to requests from Member States as they move towards universal coverage.
This page provides the key documents underpinning WHO’s strategy in health financing policy globally and regionally.
- WHA Resolution 58.33: Sustainable health financing, universal coverage and social health insurance
- Regional Committee for Africa: Health financing: a strategy for the African region
- African Health Economics Advisory Committee: Final Report of the First Meeting
- Strategy on Health Care Financing for Countries of the Western Pacific and South-East Asia Regions (2006–2010)
- Regional Committee for Europe: Approaching health financing policy in the European Region
- Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean: The impact of health expenditure on households and options for alternative financing
Related links
Technical briefs for policy-makers
Links
-
Health Systems Financing
Health financing policy is part of health systems financing. - Other relevant links